The Invitation Race Information
The Invitation is a 1400 metre set weights plus penalties race for fillies and mares run by the Australian Turf Club in October. It is held at Randwick as part of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.
- Race Type: Group 2
- Distance: 1400 metres
- Conditions: Set weights plus penalties, Fillies & mares
- Track: Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, New South Wales
- Prizemoney: $2,000,000
- Date: Saturday 26 October 2024
The Invitation Race History
The field for The Invitation consists of 12 starters invited by a panel convened by Racing NSW. Invitations are extended to fillies and mares from across Australia and New Zealand. Prizemoney of $2 million makes it the richest race of its kind in the southern hemisphere, and it is run under a set-weight and penalty scale.
The inaugural The Invitation (1400m) for fillies and mares was run at Royal Randwick on October 23 2021 and was won by Icebath ridden by Kerrin McEvoy. In 2022 the same jockey won on Promise Of Success and then in 2023 he won on Espiona.
The race is held on the same day as the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes.
In 2024 it was given black-type status and became a Group 2 race in it’s fourth year of running.
Our Runner by Runner Previews
2024 The Invitation Preview and results
2023 The Invitation Preview and results
2022 The Invitation Preview and results
2021 The Invitation Preview and results
Useful Facts
Last 3YO filly to win: none yet
Multiple winners: none yet
Fastest time (1400m): 1:21.74 Espiona (2023)
Interesting trivia: Jockey Kerrin McEvoy won the first 3 editions of this race (2021, 2022 & 2023).
Past winners of the The Invitation
The race was run for the first time in 2021.
| Year | Winner | Second | Third |
| 2024 | Belclare | Magic Time | Makarena |
| 2023 | Espiona | Ruthless Dame | Magic Time |
| 2022 | Promise Of Success | Electric Girl | Nimalee |
| 2021 | Icebath | Rocha Clock | Forbidden Love |